Switch-operating device



Nov. 3 1925. 1,560,483

0. 1.. OERTEL SWITCH OPERATING DEVICE Filed Aug. 5, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 V jgzfrcu-era ar Nov. 3, 1925- 1,560,483

0. 1.. QERTEL SWITCH OPERATING DEVICE Filed Aug. 5, 1925 2 Sheets-Shoot 2 Patented Nov. 3, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ORAN L. OERTEL, OF BUFFALOTNE'W YORK, ASSIGNOB T0 SIARK SAFETY STARTER CORPORATION, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION.

SWITCH-OPERATING DEVICE.

Application filed August 8, 1925. ,Serial No. 47,679.

To all wlwm it may concern:

Be it known that I, ORAN L. OERTEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Switch-Operating Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device for closing the electric circuit of an electric starting motor for automobile gas engines. In most cars now in common use which are provided with starting motors, but no automatic means for retarding the spark of the ignition system, there is danger of a back kick of the car motor against the connections between the same and the starting motor when the starting circuit is closed while the spark is still advanced, which back kick is liable to injure or break some of the parts.

The primary object of this invention is to provide means which will prevent a reversal of movement or back kick of the automobile engine when starting the same and more particularly a device for accom: plishing this purpose which is combined with the spark adjusting rod in such a manner that when the spark lever is turned back or into its fully retarded position the starting circuit will be closed and thus insure against starting the automobile motor when the spark is advanced.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device of this character which is very simple and inexpensive in construction, which can be installed on present day cars without requiring any alteration, boring of holes, cutting of key seats or other mechanical work in order to receive this device, thereby facilitating installation of the device and reducing the cost to a minimum.

Other advantages of this invention will appear as the description of the same proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1, is a perspective view of the starting mechanism of an automobile engine equipped with the preferred embodiment of my invention and showing the parts in the position for starting the engine.

Fi ure 2, is a similar view showing the position of the parts when the spark is advanced.

Figure 3, is a fragmentary side elevation of the same, on an enlarged scale.

Figure 4, is a vertical transverse section taken on line 4-4 Fig. 3.

Figure 5, is a top plan view of the same.

Figure 6, is a plan view of the means for connecting the intermediate rock arm of the switch operating mechanism with the spark adjusting shaft.

Figure 7, is a cross section taken on the correspondingly numbered line in Fig. 3.

Figure 8, is a similar view with the attaching clip in its open position in which it isassembled with the spark adjusting shaft.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

The numeral 10 represents an electric motor such as now commonly employed for starting the gas engine of an automobile, and 11 represents the shaft or rod which forms part of the mechanism whereby the spark of the gas engine 1s adjusted. This shaft is arranged in a rearwardly inclined position adjacent to the starting motor and rocks in suitable bearings on the steering column 12. At its upper end the spark adjusting shaft is provided with a spark lever 13 which is adapted to be raised or moved forwardly for retarding the spark of the gas engine ignition system and downwardly or backwardly for advancing this spark,'this lever being held in the desired position by a serrated quadrant 14 mounted on the upper end of the steering column.

The circuit of the starting motor is controlled by a switch which in its preferred form comprises two lower stationary contacts 15, 16, and an upper contact 17 movable vertically toward and from the lower contacts for making or breaking the circuit of the electric starting motor.

The stationary contacts are mounted on the horizontal base 18 of a bracket which latter is mounted on any available stationary part such as the flange 19 of the starting motor casing for which purpose the rear end of the bracket is provided with depending attaching arms 20 which receive the same screws 21 which ordinarily secure the starting motor to the frame 22 of the automobile engine and therefore avoids the use of any extra parts for this purpose and effecting a corresponding saving in cost.

The movable contact is mounted on the lower end of a vertically reciprocating carrier or plunger 23 which is guided in a casing 24 secured to the upper side of the base and enclosing the contacts and provided with an upwardly projecting tubular guard 25 which surrounds the carrier. The carrier is yieldingly held in its elevated position by a spring 26 surrounding the carrier and resting at its lower end against the casing 24 and engaging. its upper end against awith bearings 30. The base 18, bearing lugs 28, 29 and attaching arms 20 are made from a single sheet of metal, thereby simplifying the construction.

Journaled transversely in the bearings of the lugs 28, 29 is a horizontal crank shaft 31 which has its central part between said lugs offset to form a. crank 32 while its inner end is bent laterally to form a stop 33 which engages the outer side of the ad'acent lug and its outer end is provided with a rock arm 36 arranged outside of the other lug and projecting from the shaft in a direction opposite to said crank and terminating in a longitudinal coupling eye 35. This crank shaft, the crank, the stop, rock arm and eye are constructed integrally from a piece of metal wire of appropriate size and when the same are assembled with the bearing lugs these parts are positively held against dismemberment.

On the spark controlling shaft is mounted an actuating arm 34 which projects laterally therefrom and at right angles to the rock arm of the crank shaft. Motion is transmitted from this actuating arm to the crank shaft arm by an inclined connecting rod 37 provided at its lower end with a transverse coupling eye 38 which connects with the longitudinal eye 35 and at its upper end with a longitudinal eye 39 which engages with an eye or opening in the outer end of the actuating arm 34. This connecting rod and the eyes arranged at its opposite ends and at right angles to one another are formed from a, single piece of metal wire.

The actuating arm may be mounted on the spark controlling rock shaft in any suitable manner but preferably by means which comprise a U-shaped clip having its legs 40, 41 straddling the spark controlling shaft and its transverse web 42 engaging one side of this shaft and one or more clamping bolts 43 connecting said legs on the opposite side of the spark controlling shaft. One of the clip legs is provided at one of its transverse edges with the actuating arm and the other clip leg is provided on its longitudinal edge with a transverse thrust lip 44 which projects inwardly and is adapted to engage with the inner side of the other clip leg. This clip is made from one piece of sheet metal with the actuating arm. This means of mounting the actuating arm on the spark shaft does not require any change in the construction of the latter nor the removal and replacement of any parts for applying the actuating arm thereto. The formation of the actuating arm on the clip and providing the same with the thrust lip renders it possible to attach this arm to the spark shaft securely and without liability of displacing the relative centers of the parts and also enables the full pressure of the clamping bolts to be utilized without liability of bendingthese bolts. This clip may be readily applied to the spark shaft when its legs are spread apart, as shown in Fig. 8, and then these legs are drawn together by the clamping bolts so that the legs firmly grip the spark shaft and the thrust lip and one leg engages the other leg of the clip, as shown in Fig. 7.

The relative arrangement of the several pivotal connections between the rocking parts is such that the maximum efi'ective movement or throw is transmitted from one lever or arm to another and without pro ducing any cramping effect due to the connected parts moving in different directions or planes relative to each other, thereby enabling the switch to be operated with ease and facilityand without causing undue wear or liability of displacement.

For the purpose of closing the starting switch for operating the starting motor the spark lever is turned from its lowermost position, shown in Fig. 2', to its uppermost position, shown in Fig. 1, thereby causing the crank to depress the movable contact in engagement with the fixed contacts whereby the circuit of the starting motor is closed and the starting motor gives the initial turns to the automobile gas engine. Upon thus raising or moving the spark lever forwardly to close the circuit of the starting motor the ignition system is so adjusted that the spark is retarded, thereby preventing the automobile gas engine from reversing or kicking back and breaking or injuring the starting mechanism or parts associated therewith, which would be liable to occur if the starting motor were operated while the spark of the ignition system is advanced. This device therefore operates as a safety measure which renders it impossible to start the engine until the spark has been first retarded and this is accomplished automatically and without requiring any attention on the part of the. operator.

After the starting motor has started the automobile engine and the spark lever is moved backwardly more or less the starting switch is opened and the latter is not affected by the movement of the spark lever while advancing the spark of the ignition system.

This device for operating the starting motor supersedes the usual foot operated switch arranged in the floor board next to the drivers seat which is inconvenient and difficult to operate especially by ladies having high heeled shoes.

I claim as my invention 1. A device for operating a switch from a hand operated rock shaft, comprising a crank shaft having a crank adapted to shift said switch and a rock arm, an actuating arm adapted to be connected with said rock shaft, and alink connecting said rock arm with said actuating arm.

2. A device for operating a vertically movable switch carrier from an inclined operating shaft, comprising a horizontal crank shaft arranged at right angles to the operating shaft and having a crank adapted to engage said carrier and also having a rock arm, an actuating arm adapted to project laterally from said rock shaft, and a link connecting said actuating arm with said rock shaft.

3. A device for transmitting motion from an inclined rock shaft to a switch having fixed contacts and a contact movable vertically toward and from said fixed contacts and mounted on a 7 carrier, comprising a bracket adapted to connect with a stationary part and having a base adapted to support said fixed contacts and two bearing lugs rising from said base on opposite sides of the switch contacts, a crank shaft journaled in said lugs and provided between said lugs with a crank adapted to engage the upper end of said contact adapted to engage the upper end of said contact carrier and also provided outside of one of said lugs with a rock arm, an actuating arm adapted to be mounted on said rock shaft, and a link connecting said actuating arm and rock arm.

4. A device for transmitting motion from a rock-shaft to an electric switch having a movable contact carrier, comprising a crank shaft provided with a crank adapted to en gage said carrier and provided with a rock arm, a U-shaped clip adapted to embrace said rock shaft and engage its web with one side thereof and provided on one of its legs with a lip and on its other leg with a laterally projecting actuating arm, a bolt ,,connecting said legs on the opposite side of said rock shaft and causing said lip on one leg to bear against the other leg, and a link connecting said actuating arm and said rock arm.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ORAN L. OERTEL. 

